Louisiana Governor Vitter and Ghost of Obamacare Senate race future

The delicious Thanksgiving Turkey is now memory, Black and Blue Wednesday holiday shopping day is now upon us, but there’s always room under our expanded belts for some good home political cooking, Louisiana-style.

That’s exactly what we are getting courtesy of our favorite election campaign organizations or otherwise identified as campaign surrogates.

Today’s story focuses upon David Vitter’s possible entry into the Louisiana governor’s race and of course, the latest on our own version of the US Senate race, aka, “Obamacare Landrieu Louisiana”.

So, first, an email from David Vitter, to his boys and girls at “Team Vitter”.

Team,

Wendy and I certainly hope your family had a great Thanksgiving. We did, with plenty of time to enjoy each other and reflect on our blessings.

Many good friends and supporters have encouraged me to run for Governor in 2015--to bring my focus and leadership to the challenges we face as a state. We started to consider this as a family over Thanksgiving. We certainly haven't made our decision yet, so we'll be reflecting and praying on it very carefully through the Christmas holidays.

As we do, please keep us in your thoughts and prayers. And of course, please offer any insights you have.

Whatever our decision, I'm deeply honored by the opportunity to serve. These are important and, unfortunately, perilous times. We must all redouble our efforts to preserve our freedoms and use them to build a brighter future for our kids and grandkids.

Sincerely,

David

Note: Unlike his numerous campaign emails during his own US Senate campaign run when his main opponent was Barack Obama, this holiday greeting was more silent night about the GOP bogeyman personified, the nation's President.

While many of us might have been "shocked" by David Vitter's sudden admission that he just might be coming home to replace our current Governor who rents out the Louisiana Governor's mansion when he is not giving speeches in Pennsylvania and elsewhere USA, apparently, the Louisiana Democratic Party has been hiding in waiting just for this very moment. Today, they sent out its own email response:

Tired of Wondering, Will He or Won’t He? Louisiana Democratic Party Unveils VitterforGovernor.com Website

BATON ROUGE -- On the heels of Sen. David Vitter’s email today to supporters hinting at an upcoming gubernatorial campaign, the Louisiana Democratic Party unveiled www.VitterforGovernor.com -- a website that chronicles Vitter’s past year of openly planning for a 2015 run.

"Maybe there are still one or two voters in Louisiana honestly musing whether David Vitter is looking to move on from the Senate," said Louisiana Democratic Party Executive Director Stephen Handwerk. “However, we have always suspected Vitter had his eyes on the governor’s mansion, which is why we helpfully went out and secured a website URL for him.”

Vitter’s plans have been somewhat transparent, as he formed a super PAC earlier this year that accepts federal and state campaign contributions. The super PAC brought in more than $750,000 through the first six months of 2013, and Vitter was the “special guest” at a $5,000-a-head gator hunt fundraiser for his super PAC in September.

Vitter’s super PAC was the recipient of two maximum $100,000 state contributions this year. However, apparently that sum is insufficient for Vitter’s fundraising goals because his Washington lawyers are petitioning the Louisiana Board of Ethics to eliminate the contribution limit.

Vitter’s drive to eliminate health care benefits for congressional staffers has prompted some of his Senate colleagues to speculate whether Louisiana’s junior senator saw much of a future in Washington.

“If Vitter really wants to put some teeth behind his PR stunt, he should pledge to forego taxpayer-funded health care benefits for himself and his staff when he announces his intention to run for governor,” said Handwerk.

US SENATE RACE

Now, onward forward— to the big local battle of the decade, our Obamacare Landrieu Louisiana, or otherwise known in Republican Party parlance as "Repeal and Replace Mary Landrieu".

So, from the e-desk of Andrew Zucker, Communications Director Campaign for Louisiana (a Democratic Party offshoot), the following cryptic nuance against Bill Cassidy, the GOP's favorite son.

(Bayoubuzz Caution: for full comprehension of this message, please read slowly between the twitter lines)

SHOT: Bill Cassidy: "Obamacare will cause millions of seniors to lose their current Medicare Advantage – I’m working to protect their coverage" [Twitter, 12/4/13]

CHASER: Huffington Post Reporter Sam Stein: "@BillCassidy didn't you vote yes on the Ryan budget, which has the same cuts to Medicare Advantage?" [Twitter, 12/4/13]

Today, nationally, the National Republican Senatorial Committee, is trying to squeeze out every drop of blood possible from the Obamacare disaster drama, now that the Healthcare.gov website is somewhat ready for its own version of online Christmas shopping. The subject? A ghost from elections past--the healthcare law and the grosteque pilfering of grandma's Medicare fund.

Here's how they started the day--in its own dignified air:

December 4, 2013

Good morning –

As the ObamaCare disaster continues to unfold, Mark Pryor and National Democrats have resorted to deceiving seniors using their old and discredited MediScare playbook.

What's new this year is the blatant hypocrisy that Mark Pryor and his liberal allies in Washington are exhibiting. Pryor's deciding vote for ObamaCare cut $717 billion from Medicare - including nearly $5.4 billion directly from Arkansas ($10,296 per Medicare recipient in Arkansas). This also includes $154 billion from Medicare Advantage – which will hurt seniors. According to the Wall Street Journal, doctors are already being cut from Medicare Advantage plans because of the Administration's cuts to the program, and theNew York Daily News reported that, "due to reductions in funding under the law, the Medicare Advantage programs, in which Medicare provides money for private insurers to cover seniors, have quietly started to cancel the contracts of providers to save money."

As the ObamaCare disaster continues to unfold, Mary Landrieu and National Democrats have resorted to deceiving seniors using their old and discredited MediScare playbook.

What's new this year is the blatant hypocrisy that Mary Landrieu and her liberal allies in Washington are exhibiting. Landrieu's deciding vote for ObamaCare cut $717 billion from Medicare - including nearly $9.8 billion directly from Louisiana ($14,339 per Medicare recipient in Louisiana). This also includes $154 billion from Medicare Advantage – which will hurt seniors. According to the Wall Street Journal, doctors are already being cut from Medicare Advantage plans because of the Administration's cuts to the program, and theNew York Daily News reported that, "due to reductions in funding under the law, the Medicare Advantage programs, in which Medicare provides money for private insurers to cover seniors, have quietly started to cancel the contracts of providers to save money."

This is only the beginning. More Medicare Advantage cuts are in store, which means fewer services and fewer doctors for seniors. It's bad enough that Mary Landrieu repeatedly lied to Louisianans by promising that ObamaCare would allow people who like their health care plans to keep them. Now Landrieu and Democrats in Washington are lying again - this time about Medicare.

“Mary Landrieu deceived Louisianans by repeatedly promising that those who liked their health plans and doctors could keep them under ObamaCare, and now she's back deceiving them again," said NRSC Press Secretary Brook Hougesen. “Landrieu's vote for ObamaCare cut Medicare and as a result doctors are being removed from Medicare Advantage plans, which will affect Louisiana seniors. Mary Landrieu wasn't being honest about ObamaCare four years ago and she's still not being honest today and seniors are left to deal with the costly consequences."

Of course, the day would not be the same without a few words of wisdom and Yuletide offerings from our sweet friends residing at the local Louisiana Republican Party. Today, they announced its own version of “Season’s Greetings” reminding us about the ghost of many Christmas futures--the scrooge and scourge of the disease about to destroy Christmas (and every day) as we know it, yep—the new and slightly improved (at least, for today, that is), the Healthcare reform law. Every day, of this month leading up to Christmas Eve, they will fill our stockings with their own gifts of enlightenment:

Mary Landrieu’s Obamacare Vote: What Will it Cost You?

Today, the Republican Party of Louisiana announced that it will highlight a new#ObamacareFail each day leading up to the Dec. 23 enrollment deadline for Jan. 1coverage.

The LAGOP plans to respond through social media and press events to the President’s daily attempts to refocus Democrats’ Obamacare messaging as they head into difficult reelection campaigns in multiple states.

Speaking at a White House event yesterday, President Obama said that Obamacare "is working" and that the flawed website will improve "over time."

“Senator Mary Landrieu is in trouble,” LAGOP Spokesperson Ryan Cross said. “She cast the deciding vote that got us into this mess and no fancy PR campaign can get around that fact. This is much bigger than a broken website.”

After a disastrous rollout with dismal enrollment numbers, Democrats are scrambling to get back on track.

“Mary Landrieu has continued to double down on her support for Obamacare and she can’t run from it now,” LAGOP Executive Director Jason Doré said. “Louisiana residents deserve to hear the truth about Obamacare’s failure and Mary Landrieu’s liberal voting record.”

So, my own early Merry Christmas and belated Happy Hanukah tidings to all of you hoping for peace among good men.

And in the words of that young feeble unfortunate British socialist..God Bless Us, Every one!

Watch Bernie Pinsonat discuss current poll numbers, the US Senate race, Congressional races, upcoming Louisiana legislative session, Governor John Bel Edwards' popularity, favorables of other elected officials, future political races such as Treasurer, Attorney General and more topics.